Cover of Guts

Guts

by Raina Telgemeier · Grades 4–8 · Graphic Memoir

Guts by Raina Telgemeier is on US reading lists at grades 4–8. It appears on 4 lists: 4 book-award lists, across 4 states. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 9–13 · Grades 4–8. The button opens the print edition (ISBN 9780545852531). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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Widely assigned — 4 curriculum lists · 4 states

#99 most-assigned book in America — on school reading lists in 4 states (2026-07-13 study of 13,258 assignments).

Grade placement varies by school — the median assigned book spans 4 grade levels (83% span three or more, across 13,258 source-cited assignments).

On reading-award lists:Volunteer State Book AwardWisconsin Golden Archer AwardArizona Grand Canyon Reader AwardBuckeye Children's & Teen Book Award

This page shows where Guts is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

Reading level at a glance

Grade range
Grades 4–8
Age range
Ages 9–13
First published
2019
Genre
Graphic Memoir
ISBN-13
9780545852531

Sources: grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-06-15; pages and year from our catalog record (sources); reading time is an estimate at 250 words a minute.

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About this book

Book facts and sources (4)
On award reading lists
Catalog record
First published 2019 (source: how we source book data)

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Guts→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This graphic memoir title is typically read at grades 4–8. Written in the 2010s; pairs with curriculum units on anxiety and growing up; cited on 4 lists: 4 book-award lists.

Themes

anxiety · growing up · courage

Where this book is recommended

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Common questions

What grade level is Guts?
Guts is listed for grades 4–8. It appears on 4 state book-award lists across 4 states. Exact placement varies by school and district.
What curricula assign Guts?
Guts appears on reading lists for Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award, Buckeye Children's & Teen Book Award, Volunteer State Book Award, and 1 others. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Guts banned in schools?
Guts has documented removals from at least one public-school district in 1 state (FL) per PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. Policies vary by district.
What themes does Guts explore?
Central themes in Guts include anxiety, growing up, courage.

Why this book is on this list

How we classify

Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.

Lexile measure
Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
Grade band
Grades 4–8 — drawn from the state book-award lists citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 4 curricula on this site (see “Where recommended” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
On state book-award lists in 4 states (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
Documented as challenged or removed in 1 state per PEN America’s Index of School Book Bans — see the full banned & challenged books list.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: book-club.

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